Western cyclone., 1887-05-19
Editor of the Watchman

[ am on a prospective tour looking
over this western country. | left your
city on the 25th of March. [ remained
at Topeka, Kansas, short time think
ing might find some legal business
to attend to. found the district court |
in session, and was accordingly sworn
in as attolney-at-law. visited the |
state house and was kindly received |
by the officers. On entering the audi |
tors Office, | found the leading clerk |
a colored man. who had served out |
two terms in that Office. with great
credit. Before that he was county
clerk of Graham county, in which
Nicodemus is situated. Nicodemus is
about two hundred and fifty miles,
more or less, from Topeka. | travelled
nearly two hundred miles withnut see
ing the face ola cOlored man. began
to think how was it tpossible that
cOlored man could be elevated to the
office Of state auditor. On the way
met a colored gentleman who said his
name was Elder S Rountrce, of Mic
odemus. We were glad to meet each
other and | gained some information
about Nicodemus. At town called
Downs, a white gentleman got in, and
commenced a conversation with Elder
Rountree He was introduced to me
as Mr. Mcpherson, who was also
citizen Of Nicodemus and the, banker
of said town. lie said that he was
glad that I was going to Nicodomus
and he hoped that would locate there.
Nicodemus is about twenty miles from
the railroad by stage route. The stage
driver and proprietor was q colored
gentleman, Mr.. s Garland On arriv-
ing there | inquired for Foster Will
Jams Esq and his, wife rs | had
heard SO much about them / soon
found them. He is quite an intelligent
young man with q beautiful and
pleasant young wife. They. have been
here only little over ten months, and
were formerly citizens Of Memphis.
They left there the spring Of 1886
He comes here without any means
worked up and went into business;
built him fine house, and now he is
worth about three thousand dillars.
He is in the grocery business and has
already ordered bill of lumber to
to build another store here on Main
street. He is very popular with The
people. | npaver met with q warmer
reception from u set of people in my
life. Everybody wants me to stay
here. A very courteous colortd gen
: tlenian is III charge as postmaster
His name is MrTA n. Harper, and he
! is worth his thousands. | was then
carried to st Francis Hotel, a stone
4 stone building, well ,Gtted up in style
It Is owned by z. I. Fletcher. coloreC
! | was then carried to ahcther h0te
r called the Gibson House. It's also 6
+ fine stone building. The owner is 4;
5 col0led lady, Mrs Eliza Smith. Boil
Q own livery stab't5 with fine tugaiet
. md horses. | was intro luCed sup
pose that first day to nearly huMdie(
colored citizens who owned their owl
e farms in the county, estimating thei
: wealth from five thousand dollar
v down t. a thousand. I was ADVERTISED
e TO lecture in the Baptist church: whicI
/ | did to a large congregation. Mr. z
! 7. Fletcher carried me to Millbro0k tn
| county scat and there | was employe'
and retained iii very important law
suit Ny client is white. The distric
+ clerk Is a colored man, a Mr. HaN
IS kins. Mf Fl. S. Henrie, c3l0rtd has
or large dry goods store, With a: stock {
n fotr or five thousand dollars | ais
N met the editor Of the Western Cyclon
h He is 4 white gentleman, and a hig
If toned one 1T that. | now found or
Of doctor and two drug stores, m
i one lawyer-all white-and they al
3e clever gentlemen too. They have
A well organized band called tie Nj
lc ode,nus Corhet Band led by PROTEST.
Is J. c. kowrey, thorough end acc6n